Sure..stick a kid in a top 6 spot.....then complain about how NYR is terrible at cultivating its young talent

Only way Otthman should stick with NYR this season is IF he plays so well in training camp that he "forces" Drury tonkeep him upnwoth the big boys
- rrentz

Well letting the young players flounder on the 3rd and 4th lines has worked and is working out very well.

Well letting the young players flounder on the 3rd and 4th lines has worked and is working out very well.
- tomburton99

Ok then Othmann is a bust. That's a win-win for me. (I also cant control how much Patrick Bacon thinks or how his data and models produce expected results.) Nobody on this blog is hoping that Othmann actually fails, not even me. The Rangers cannot afford to have another forward turn into a struggling middle six 6 player. Yet most of te recent forwards turn into that here. Hmmm, why is that.
- tomburton99

I believe it’s on the scouting staff, or lack thereof. It’s a matter of putting eyeballs on players frequently no matter what the hype or ranking may be.

I’d bet no one in the Ranger scouting department actually went to see Laf more than once, probably never thought they had a shot at him. Any scout worth his salt would have seen immediately his lack of a 1st step and inability to separate. Of course, what the saw was a kid playing against other kids.

I believe it’s on the scouting staff, or lack thereof. It’s a matter of putting eyeballs on players frequently no matter what the hype or ranking may be.

I’d bet no one in the Ranger scouting department actually went to see Laf more than once, probably never thought they had a shot at him. Any scout worth his salt would have seen immediately his lack of a 1st step and inability to separate. Of course, what the saw was a kid playing against other kids.
- OLDSCHOOL#6

That could be true. I never thought of that.

- jimbro83

So that's wrong? Or are you just mad at me because it's me?

So that's wrong? Or are you just mad at me because it's me?
- tomburton99

just mocking your take that every player is the same

Marc Staal to Philly
- jimbro83

1.1 million, vet in the room, likely flipped at deadline. Clearly, winning a Cup not the focus for him

1.1 million, vet in the room, likely flipped at deadline. Clearly, winning a Cup not the focus for him
- airjan23

Torts always loved him

just mocking your take that every player is the same
- jimbro83

They aren't the same. That's the problem. What's the common denominator?

1.1 million, vet in the room, likely flipped at deadline. Clearly, winning a Cup not the focus for him
- airjan23

i honestly can't believe the cats amde the cup w/ him and gudas playing big minutes.

if you told me that sentence back in 2016 idk - i'd be very very broke right now

I believe it’s on the scouting staff, or lack thereof. It’s a matter of putting eyeballs on players frequently no matter what the hype or ranking may be.

I’d bet no one in the Ranger scouting department actually went to see Laf more than once, probably never thought they had a shot at him. Any scout worth his salt would have seen immediately his lack of a 1st step and inability to separate. Of course, what the saw was a kid playing against other kids.
- OLDSCHOOL#6

He pretty was the consensus first overall pick. That would mean that every scouting department was either wrong, didn't watch him or both.

i honestly can't believe the cats amde the cup w/ him and gudas playing big minutes.

if you told me that sentence back in 2016 idk - i'd be very very broke right now
- NYRangers1124

Gudas was really good this year. Idk how that happened.

They aren't the same. That's the problem. What's the common denominator?
- tomburton99

that you are going to take the negative take no matter what everybody is talking about?

from the Athletic on Wheeler signing:

The contract

Blake Wheeler signs a one-year deal with the Rangers with an $800,000 cap hit.

Mark Lazerus: Last season, Blake Wheeler was a key part of a Canadian team with lofty expectations, making $8.25 million a season. It didn’t end well, for him or for the Winnipeg Jets. But the beauty of being bought out — once you get over the ego blow of being told you’re so unwanted that a team will pay you to leave — is the freedom it provides. You don’t have to worry about cashing in on your next contract, and you can pick your destination.



So the Rangers were able to add a veteran winger just a few years removed from back-to-back 91-point seasons for less than your average entry-level contract, and Wheeler gets to go to a perennial contender in the Eastern Conference where he can be a mostly anonymous third-line winger and prove he’s not washed at 36 years old.

Does Wheeler, not exactly the quickest guy in the league, have anything left? Well, he had a perfectly respectable 55 points in 72 games last season. He can be useful on special teams and provide some scoring depth. And if he doesn’t? It barely cost New York anything.

An interesting side note: Does this preclude the Rangers from bringing back Patrick Kane? It’s believed Kane very much wants to return to New York. His hip surgery complicates things, but it also might make Kane more willing to take a cheap, short-term deal in an effort to prove he’s still got it — like Wheeler just did.

Contract grade: A
Fit grade: B+


Jets buying out Wheeler's contract

Sean Gentille: Here’s what everyone should’ve remembered coming out of BuyoutPalooza over the few days leading up to NHL free agency: A lot of those guys have already made a bunch of money. The odds that at least a few of them would take cut-rate deals were good.

That’s what we have in Wheeler’s case. The last deal he signed with Winnipeg was worth more than $40 million. He’s going to clear $2.75 million this season in the buyout alone. Why not take less to play where you want to play, in a role that makes sense? So, of course he ends up in New York.

Wheeler was a bubble elite player at his peak. Is he there any longer? Of course not. At 36, it would’ve been weird if he were. But as a complementary player — a middle-six, playmaking right winger who still brings a lot on a power play — he’s more than good enough. Wheeler’s passing ability is fully intact; he was 54th in the league in primary assists/60 last season.
- jimbro83

That’s it in a nutshell. He was literally the perfect fit out there for them.

That’s it in a nutshell. He was literally the perfect fit out there for them.
- Slimtj100

this is it in a nutshell

I have a feeling if I, ME, didn’t want wheeler Tom wouldn’t give a fk but since he’s a child he plays his game with it as if it’ll get a rise out of me. But alas, I’m smart enough to realize it was a terrific addition!!

He pretty was the consensus first overall pick. That would mean that every scouting department was either wrong, didn't watch him or both.
- airjan23

Well, you explain it then. I’ve never seen a player with so much hype skate like he does. Did they all get it wrong? I don know, and don’t care. All I see is a 3rd line player, nothing more.

I have a feeling if I, ME, didn’t want wheeler Tom wouldn’t give a fk but since he’s a child he plays his game with it as if it’ll get a rise out of me. But alas, I’m smart enough to realize it was a terrific addition!!
- Slimtj100

we signed a guy with 55 points last year to a 800k deal

it's a steal

Well, you explain it then. I’ve never seen a player with so much hype skate like he does. Did they all get it wrong? I don know, and don’t care. All I see is a 3rd line player, nothing more.
- OLDSCHOOL#6

the lack of finishing ability bothers me more than the skating

I have a feeling if I, ME, didn’t want wheeler Tom wouldn’t give a fk but since he’s a child he plays his game with it as if it’ll get a rise out of me. But alas, I’m smart enough to realize it was a terrific addition!!
- Slimtj100

Has nothing to do with it. The Rangers chose to ignore the analytics. They are dumb. Pretty simple.

What is happening here today

we signed a guy with 55 points last year to a 800k deal

it's a steal
- jimbro83

Also basically had a point per game in the playoffs

What is happening here today
- picklerick

Tom being Tom

Has nothing to do with it. The Rangers chose to ignore the analytics. They are dumb. Pretty simple.
- tomburton99

the Athletic said it was an A+ signing

the lack of finishing ability bothers me more than the skating
- jimbro83

He’s got a great shot from 20 feet in, he has a nose for the corners. Issue is he rarely has enough time and space to take it